The buildup to the Southeastern Conference Swimming and Diving Championships lasts the entire season.

Preseason training, dual meets and invitationals from September through January all lead to this moment. The excitement, speed and competitiveness at the SEC Championships rival even the NCAA Championships.

Kentucky enters the five-day championship coming off a win at Cincinnati on Jan. 30. Since then, it’s been all about tapering, staying fresh and building on the momentum from the win over Cincinnati.

“The team is excited. The last few weeks of training has been really good,” second-year head coach Lars Jorgensen said. “We’ve continued to build momentum in practice, along with getting rest and recovery so everyone is sharp when we get to Auburn. The key is to keep everyone sharp.”

The buildup has been aided by the win at Cincinnati in UK’s regular-season finale. Both the UK men and women notched identical 216-84 victories, which has propelled the Wildcats into a positive two weeks of practice leading into Tuesday’s conference meet.

The championship preparation got a boost because of the win at UC. The excitement level from that win has translated into the two weeks of training.

“There’s been a really positive attitude in practice,” senior Christina Bechtel said. “Everyone’s been excited, it’s really good energy in the pool. We’re gearing up, getting ready to swim fast at SECs. Getting that big win at Cincinnati will help us bring a lot of good momentum into the championship and bring some good performances.”

“Our practices have been really good. We’ve had a lot of hard practices,” sophomore Danielle Galyer added. “We’re looking forward to SECs, everyone is tapering and we’re excited to swim fast.”

While attention and excitement for the SEC Championships has kicked into high gear after the conclusion of the regular season, the meet has really been the focus ever since September.

Ever since the beginning of the season, Jorgensen has preached the importance of building up towards the conference championship meet. Not only is it key to have your fastest times to earn more points for the team in the standings, but it’s the personal-best times that gets individuals into the NCAA Championships.

“SECs is always in the back of our mind. That’s what we’re training for,” sophomore Kyle Higgins said. “Everyone’s excited, coming off a win over Cincinnati and some good swims vs. Louisville. We definitely want to get best times, but each of us doesn’t want this to be our last meet. We all want to get fast times so we can earn a spot at the NCAA Championships.”

Swimmers qualify for the national championship meet by their season-best times in each event, with the fastest athletes earning bids. From competing against a fast field to wearing special racing suits, those season-best times are routinely set at the league championship event.
Despite any success achieved during the regular season, it’s at the SEC Championships were the season’s story is written though.

“It’s been a great year. We’ve achieved a lot of success so far. But this meet is important. It’s where we can qualify some more athletes for NCAAs,” Jorgensen said. “We want everyone to get as many personal-bests as possible and score as many points as a team as we can. It’s a really difficult conference meet against some really good teams, some of the best teams in the country.”

The season-long buildup has been aided by the fact that Jorgensen is in his second season. For the 35 athletes returning from last season, there are fewer unknowns. From preseason training to postseason tapering, the Wildcats know what to expect. There is plenty of familiarity with Jorgensen’s coaching style.

The 16 sophomores, many of whom have played a vital role in the team’s success in 2014-15, are now familiar with the grind of the collegiate season.

“This year I think it was easier to get started,” Galyer said. “I don’t know if that’s just because I’m a sophomore now, but we knew what to expect coming in, so it was easier to get adjusted right away. We’re just trying to keep moving in the right direction.

“Being a sophomore and going into my second SECs, it’s helpful for mental preparation for the meet. We know what to expect, there are fewer unknowns. I’m able to focus on the swimming part instead of guessing about all the other things.”

One of the unknowns for any first-time competitor at the SEC Championships is just how big the event really is. From a packed venue to many of the nation’s best swimmers and divers and the best teams, the five-day meet packs plenty of excitement.

Add in the fact that the meet will be broadcast live on SEC Network +, and there are plenty of nerves to go around.

“It’s definitely going to be different this year, knowing what to expect and not being so nervous,” Higgins said. “I know what I’m going up against, I know what to expect. It’s going to be really exciting to race against some of the best in the country.”

Knowing what to expect can make a lot of difference. Just ask Bechtel, who broke out on the scene last year at her second SEC Championships.

Then a junior, Bechtel placed second in the 100 butterfly after finishing 17th as a sophomore in her first SEC appearance. It was UK’s first swimming medal at the conference championship since 2012 and the Bechtel became the first Wildcat to earn a silver medal since 2010.

The podium finish for Bechtel catapulted her to the NCAA Championships, where she placed fifth in the 200 butterfly.

“This is my third SEC Championships, so I know what to expect at this meet,” Bechtel said. “Last year I had some good swims, so I’m hoping for some even better swims this season and to score as many points as a can for our team. I know what to expect, and I know the upperclassmen do as well, so we can help the freshmen too. The coaching staff has done a great job this season preparing this team, and I can’t wait to see the results that will come this week.”

This year, Bechtel owns the NCAA’s fastest 200 butterfly time and the second-fastest time in the 100 butterfly. That has earned her the top seed in both events this week.

With a bid to the NCAA Championships already secured, Bechtel hopes a strong showing at the SEC Championships is just a sign of things to come at nationals.

Whether they’re chasing an SEC title or a spot in each evening’s top final, looking to improve their NCAA qualifying time or just making their first SEC Championships appearance, it’s important to step back and enjoy the moment.

“The SEC Championships is fun. It’s a really exciting event to be a part of,” Jorgensen said. “The whole team travels and is able to compete. The week is really a lot of fun and the team is excited. They work so hard for this moment, so I hope they will be able to compete hard and enjoy it. And have fun with it, that’s important too.”

With a sold-out crowd expected at Auburn’s Martin Aquatic Center and some of the nation’s fastest swimmers on hand, there will be plenty of reasons to have fun.